Engine



No. 617,807. Paiented Jan. l7, I899.

W. S. COLWELL.

ENGINE.

(Appliqation filed Nov. 16, 1897) (No Modal.) I 4 Sheets-Shani I.

v o v o o O -5 x 0 Q o o 80 0 7 7 I o a v Q v =63 /0.9 x o l No. 6|7,807. Patented Jan. 17, I899.

w. s; CDLWELL.

ENGINE.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1897.) (No'ModeL) I 4 Sheets-Sham 2.

m Ix. I F 4 W. S. CGLWELL.

' ENGINE.

' (Application flied Nov. 15, 1897.) 4 (No Model.) '4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No.vB|'7,807. Patented Jan. l7, I899.

No; 6|7,s07 Patented Jan. I7, 1399.. w. s. CULWELL. ENGINE. li ucacioil filed m. 15 1897.) (No mm. A 4'smts-sn ei4;

PATENT .OFFICE.-

. wILLi AM s. COLWELL. or CHICAGO, liimivois.

ENGINE Q i srncrrrcnrron forming part ofI -etters was no. einsor'z, natearrsnuar 1'7, wee.- I

Application filed November 16, 1897. 9.6 1511% 658:551- (No model.) I

Toall whom-it may concern: p

v Beit known that I, WILLIAM SAMUEL L- WELL, a citizen of the "United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have-invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Fluid-Pressu're Engines or Motors, of which the following is afnll, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to fluid-pressure en lo gines or motors generally, but more particularly to therotary steam engine-or motor. and

to those types employing a piston-way or other Y chamber or space for the-pressure to act in;

and a piston or othermember for the pressure 7 r 5 to act against; and the improvements have more especial referenceto means for subject-j it as applied to a rotary'en'gine of the-steamengine type, as an example of the variousing the advance side of the piston to a'vacuu m withoutdepending upon the condensation of the exhaust-steam for the prod'uction'of no such vacuum.

. The primary object of, my invention is to provide improved means for subjecting the piston on. its advan'ceside to vacuous action. A fnrtherobject of my invention isto provide a valve-gear for engines whereby the ex haust will be opened during. a short length of the stroke'and the piston way then shut off from the exhaust and opened to avacuum during a comparatively-longer length of the" stroke; 1

With these, ends in View my invention con; sists in certain features of noveltyin the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain Q other objects hereinafter appearing are at-- tained, all as fully described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

- In the said drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation, partlyv in vertical section, of s. ro-- tary engine equipped with my improvements.

' .Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional view, partly broken away, showing the parts in the position they assume when the'engine is runningto the left,or away from the engineer, with the exhaust taking Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the x place.

parts in the position they assume whenthe engine is running in the samedirection and 5ov taking pressure or steam. Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views showing the engine running 1n engine of the reversible form I provide a valvethe reverse directiomortqthe right. Fig. 7

partly broken away, corresponding in position, respectively, with the positions of the f parts as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, andfi.

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation ofthefleating lever and its pivotal standard or support, hereinafter described. Fig; '13is a. detaillplan VlQW' .of certain parts of the valve mechanism or gear;here inafter explained ;-and Fig. 14 is a perspective View of a clog, hereinafter -de-..

scribed."

throughput the figures of the drawings. In illustrating-my invention 1 have shown formsof motors to which my improvements Like signs of reference indicate like parts are equally applicable,- and in describing the by the fluid-pressure as'the piston but this "invention in connection with such motors I herein refer to the member which is actuatedterm I employ asa convenient and generic term, meaning that part or memberof any motor which corresponds to the piston or other part that converts the'pressu're into motion;

and I also employ herein the expression pis-I ton-Way,- which is to be considered a generic term 'meaningthat space or chamber in which the pressure acts for converting its power into motion. V I

It will also be evident that while the exam ple of motor illustrated and described is of the reversible type the invention is in-its broadest} aspect. nevertheless equally applicable to non-reversible or oneway. motors.

. 53 representstheshellor casing; 54, thepisr ton-way therein ;-55,the piston-secured to main shaft; 56 57, the movable abutment; 58 59', the inlet-ports on either side oftheabutment; 6061, the valves controlling such inlet-ports, respectively; 62,'the steam-chest,in which said valves 60 61 are housed, and63 64 the exhaustports on either side of the abutm'entt All ofi these parts may be of the usual or any-suitable construction, and the mechanism for controlling the admissionof pressure through either of the/ports 58 59 may be-of any of the.

valvemechanisins well known in the art.

In applying imy improvements to a rotary y the engine.

Contained in each of the housings (i6 is with a vacuum-chamber 27 through pipe or passage 26, as well as provided with an exhaust-discharge passage. One of these valvehousings is shown at 65, the other at 66, and each is provided with aport 67, communicating with one of the exhaust-ports 63 64, a port or passage 68, leading to any suitablefittin having a flange (59 or other suitable attacF- ment whereby it maybe connected with the pipe 26, Fig. 7, leading to the vacu um-chainber- 27, and also an exhaust-discharge passage 70, leading'to a similar fitting 71, which may be connected with an exhaust-discharge pipe'72'. Each of these valve-housings may be bolted orotherwise suitably secured to the'shell of a plug-valve 73 74. When the engine is running to the left, or away from the engineer, assuming the engineers post to be on the right, the upper valve 73 is turned so as to close thefexhaust-port 63, and is rendered inactive during the rotation of the engine in this direction by mechanism presently to be described, while the valve 7 4, or lower valve, places the piston-way; through the port 64 first in communication with the vacuum,

where it remains until the-piston has almost "completed the circuit/or stroke and passed 'such exhaust-port -64, whereupon the pressure which impelled the piston to this position escapes into the port 64, and at the same time the valve 74 shifts the narrower side of its passage from the vacuum to the exhaust-' v discharge passage 70, and remains in this p'osition until the abutment 57 has been withdrawn to permit the piston to pass and again inserted behind the piston. By the time the abutment is again installed the piston will have'risen beyond the upper inlet-port 58and pressure'is again admitted throughsuch port 58 to impel the piston throughout another str0ke,and at the same time the valve 74 shifts back to its normalposition (shown in Fig. 4) with the vacuum in communication with the piston-way, and consequently enabling the vacuum to exertapropulsive action on the piston throughout the time that the piston is approaching the exhaust-port 64. Fig. 5 shows the parts in the position they assume at theinstant of the exhaust when the engine is running to the right, or toward the engineer, and Fig. 6 illustrates their position at the instant of or shortly after taking steam or pressure. 1

Any lingering products of the exhaust remaining in the piston-way and connected ,passages'under atmospheric pressure are of course sucked into the vacuum-chamber 27,

v and in order that such products or portion of the exhaust may not tend to reduce the vacuum. I provide the vacuum-chamber with an ordinary spraypr-rosebl, having cold 75 represents water-pipe connection 32 and being arranged, preferably,directly opposite the pipe 26,which leads from the engine, so that any portion of the exhaust pressure fluid drawn into the vacuum will be instantly condensed, and when the pressure employed is steam the 'watersof condensation, together with the small amount of water sprayed in through the rose 31, will fall to the bottom of the vacsum-chamber 27 and serve the useful purpose of packing the pump 29, which in the absence of such water would in all probability require a special supply of water -for.this purpose. The water'discharged from the pump may be delivered to the hot-well 30 or any otherdesired place and thence to the boiler.

I have not shown herein any mechanism for operating the abutment 57 nor the pressure-admission valves 60 61; but any desired means may be employed for these purposes.

I will now describe the mechanisnrfor holding one of the valves 73 74 at rest. or inactive and'imparting the described movements to the other.

' a pivoted standard or support whose lower end is pivotally supported at 76 to a bracket 77, secured to a part 78 of the engine-bed,'and 79 is a floating lever whose upperend is pivot-ed at 80 to the upper end of, the standard 75, while its lower end is piv-- oted at 81 to a second lever 82, the pivots 7 6 81 beiugso arranged with relation to each other that when the lever 79 is brought into parallelism with the standard 75 suchzpivots 10o will-be coincident. The lever 7 9 is also elastically connected to the standard 75, and the movement of the standard 75 is limited in one direction, while the lever 79 is capable of further movement in the. same direction. I accomplish this elastic connection between the standard 75 and lever 79 by means of a rod 83, passing loosely through the lever 79 and being secured by means of lug 84 (see Fig-12) to the back of the standard 75 and 1rd composed of a rod 86,.secured'in block 87 and passing through a vertical slot 88 in the standard and having a head 89, against which the no standard abuts. 7

Each end of the bodily-moving lever 82 is provided with pivotal operative connection. with one of the valves 73 74. The lower valve '74'is provided with a crank-arm 90, connected 1 25 by rod 91 with the upper end of the lever 82. The upper valve is provided with a crank-arm 92, which is connected by rod or link 93 with one arm of a bell-crank 94, whose other arm is connected by a rod 95'with the lower end f 1 0 the lever 82. The upper end of the lever 82 is also connected by link 96 with a'cranlearm close the exhaust-port 63 or 64 controlled 97, pivoted loosely on shaft asfwhne the lower end of the lever 82 is connected by link 99 with a downwardly-projecting crank-arm 100, also pivoted n the shaft 98, andin combination with these crank-arms 97 100 Iemplay suitable meansfor holding one of them .na rest while the other is permitted to oscillate, suchmeans being controlled, prefer ably, by the reversing device,which also shifts the inlet-valves of the engine, so thatwhen the reversing device is moved in one direction one of the inlet-valves of the engine will be closed or rendered inactive and the other put in condition for operation, and one end of the lever 81 will be held stationary while the other end is permitted to oscillate with the lever- 79, thus holding one of the valves 73 74 at. rest and closed while the other operates through the oscillationof the lever 82.

A convenient means of accomplishing this consists of an arm 101, preferably pivoted on the shaft 98 and having a clogor lock 102 projecting into theplane of oscillation of both of the arms 97 100, so that when the arm 101 is thrown in one direction its clog 102will press against one of the arms 97 100 and hold it against oscill'ation, and consequently hold 'that end of the lever 82 at rest, while the other end is permitted to oscillate, and when the arm 101 is thrown-in theopposite direction the opposite end of the lever 82 will ac- "cordingly be locked and its other end freed,

This motion of the arm 101 also shifts the lever. 82 and through such action turns the valve 73 or 7e controlled thereby into such a position that its blankside will permanently thereby. 102*representsTa cushion-blocker buifer having a padded surface for the'arms .97 100 to strike against.

.. nected by link 103 with one arm of a bell: crank lever104, whose other arm is connected by rod 105 to the reversing lever or device 106,'the. latter being secured to a shaft 107 and controlling'theinlet-valves and abutment mechanism in any suitable "way.

The lever 79 is connected at about its midlength to the arm 108 of an eccentric-strap 109, operated by an eccentric on the shaft 56 of the engine. While the eccentric is moving to the right and carrying the lever 79 and standard in the-same direction such lever and standardturnona common axis passing through the centers 76 81, and as a consequence no movement of either valve 73 74 is produced until the standard 75 comes against its stop 89,- whereupon the eccentric in continuing to pull the lever 79 will impart pivotal movement to it on its pivot 81, and in. so doing compress thespring 86 and carry the center 81 away from the center 76. This prodimes an independent oscillation of the lever saws: ch turns on the pivot at the end thereof which happens tobe fixed by the clog 102,

and in thus oscillating it eiiects,.through the rod 91 or'95, the shifting of oneof the valves The arm 101 is con- 73 74 in such amanner as'to disconnect the vacuum from the piston-way through the exhaust-discharge passage 70, whereupon the exhau'strushes out of the'piston-way and esthe eccentric has completed its movement'to the right and begins to return the eccentriclow up the movement by pressing against the pivot 81 to a coincident position with the pivot76, thus shifting the valve 73. or .74 to its normal position with the vacuum in communication with the piston-way and the e'x-- as the centers 76 81 arrive at a coinc'identpoto the left on the same'center, and the lever 82 therefore remains at rest,- and consequently the valve73or 74 will keep the piston-way in communication with the vacuum during valve 73 or 74 is acted upon being the time of the center 76.

Patent, is 1. A motor havingin said piston-way having a supply and an exvacuum-chamber connected with both of. said exhaust-ports and each of said exhaust-ports being also connected with an exhaust-disthe other of saidexhaust-ports alternately in c sage, substantiallyas set forth.

' tinuouspiston-way; a piston therein ;'an abutan exhaust port on each side of said abutment; means for admitting pressure through her connected with both of said'exhaust-ports nectedwith an exhaust-discharge passage; a

nection with said reversing device for periodically opening either of said exhaust-ports discharge passage subs tantially as set forth.

combination a contihuous piston-way; apiston; an abutment,

haust port on each side of said abutment; a."

and each of said exhaust-ports bein g also confirst to the vacuum and then to the exhaust 3.. A-motor having in'combinationa pistonv7o capes independentlyof the'vacuum. 'When rod 108 toward the left,.the spring 86 will fols 75 lower end of the lever 79 and will return the haust-discharge passage 70 cut ofi, As soon SitiOn the lever 79 and standard 75 oscillate I the balance and greater part of the stroke or a rotation of the piston, the onl'ytime that the v 7 9 the center 81 is passing to and fro on the right Havingthus described my invention, what v I claim as new, and desire to secur'e'by Letters 4 g charge passage-{means for holding one 0t said-- exhaust-ports closed and means 'for placing 5 ommunication with first thevacuum-chamher and then said exhaust-discharge pas- '2. A motor having in combination acon uo" ment; said piston-way having .a supply and either of said supply-ports a vacuum-chamv valve adapted'to place each' of said exhaustx-z 5 hold one inlet-port closed while the other is in operation, and means having operativeconwa having an exhaust-port; means for admittingpressureto said pistonway; a vacuuni-chamber; a valve-housin g connected with said exhaust-port and vacuum-chamber and way having an exhaust-port; means for admitting pressure-to said piston-way; a vacuum-chamber; a valve-housing connected with said exhaust-port and vacuum-chamber and also having an exhaust-discharge passage; a valve in said housing adapted to place said 'exhaust-port in communication with said vacuum and exhaust-discharge passage; a movable member having a pivotal support and having also pivotal operative connection with said valve and the latter one of said pivots being adapted to'coincide with the axis of the other whereby the movement of said member will not affect the position of said valve when said pivots are coincident; means for moving said member with one of its said pivotal connections away from the other and means for tending to restore said pivotal connections to a coincident position, substantially asset forth.

5. A motor having in combination a pistonsway having an exhaustport; means for admitting pressure to said piston-way; a vacuum-chamber; a valve-honsingeonnected with said exhaust-port and vacuum-chamber and also having an exhaust discharge passage; a valve in said housing adapted to place said exhaust-port in communication with said vacuum and exhaust-discharge passage alternately; a pivoted floating lever having a limited movement at one end and a further movementat the other and said other end being operatively connected with said valve; a cushion for resisting the pivotal movement of 1 said lever and means for oscillating'said lever 7 way having an exhaust port; means forad bodily, substantially as set forth.

(5. A motor having in combination a pistonmitting pressure-to saidpiston-way; a vaeudin-chamber; a valve-housing connected with said exhaust-port and vacuum-chamber and also having an exhaust-discharge passage; a valve in said housing adapted to place said exhaust-port in communication with said vacuum'and exhaust-discharge passage alternately; a pivotal support or'stand'a'rd having alimited movement; alever'piv'oted at one end to saidstandard and havingelastic connection therewith for resisting the pivotal movement of said lever and said lever also having operative connection with saidvalve, and means for oscillating said lever bodily, substantially as set forth.

7. A motor having in combination an abutment; a piston; a continuous piston-way having'an exhaust-port at each side of said abutment; a vacuuurchamber; a val vc-housing having communication with said vacuumchamber and with each of said cxhaust-ports and being also provided with an exhaust-discharge passage; a valve in each of said housings adapted to place either of said exhaustports in communication with the vacuumchamber' and with said exhaustdischarge passage alternately; a floating lever; means for bodily oscillating said lover; a second lever pivoted to said first lever and having each end provided with pivotal operative connection with said valves respectively; means for holding either end of said second lever inactive while theothcr end oscillates with said floating lever; and means for admitting pressure to the piston-way at either side of the abutment; substantially as set forth.

.8. A motor having in combination an abutment; a piston; a continuous piston-way having an exhaust-port at each side of said abutment; a vacuum-chamber; a valve-housing having communication with said vacuumchamber and with each of said exhaust-ports and being also provided with an exhaust-discharge passage; a valve in each of said housings adapted. to place either of said exhaust- .ports in communication with said vacuum-,

chamber and with said exhaust-discharge passage alternately; a floating lever; means for bodily oscillating said lever; a second lever pivoted to said firstlever and having each end provided with pivotal operative connection with said valves respectively; a revere-- ing device having means arranged in operative relation to both ends of said second lever for forcing said second lever in either direction onits pivotal connection with the floating lever, and means for admitting pressure to the piston-way at either side of the abut-. ment, substantially as set forth. a

9. A motor having in combination an abutment; a piston; a continuous piston-way having an exhaust-port at each side of said abutment; a vacuum-chamber; a valve-housing having communication with said vacuumchamber and with each of said exhaust-ports and being also provided with an exhaust-discharge passage; a valve in each housing adapt means for holding either end'of said second .valveinactive while the other end oscillates,

'with each of said exhaust-ports and said arranged to coincide with the pivot of said valves; means for oscillating said first lever; a pair of independent pivoted arms pivotally cameo? lever and means for holclmglone end of said vacuum-chamber; avalve-housingconnected second lever at rest while itsfother endoscillates, substantially as set forth.

16. A motorhavingin combination apiston an abutment; a piston-way having an exhaust-port on each side of said abutment; a vacuum-chamber; avalve-housingconnected cum-chamber and also having an exhaustdischai'ge passage; a valve in each of. said housings adapted to place each of said exhaust-ports alternately in communication with said vacuum-chamber and exhaust-discharge passage; a pivoted standard; a lover vacn uni-chambcrand also having an exhaustpivoted to said standard; a second lever pivdischarge passage; a valve in each of said housings adapted to place each of said exhaust-ports alternately in communication with said vacuum-chamber and exhaust-dis charge passage; a pivoted standard; a lever pivoted to said standard; a second lever pivoted to said first lever and having its pivot arranged to coincide with the pivot of said standard and each end of said second lever having operative connection with one oi? said valves; means for oscillating said first-lover; a'stop for limiting the movement of said standard; a rod passing loosely through said lever and having a spring or cushion on one end bearing against said lever and the other end being secured to said standard whereby said pivot of the second lever will be drawn into coincidence with the pivot of said standard, substantially as set'forth.

19. A motor having in combination a piston an abutment; a piston-way having an exhaust-port on each side of said abutmcnt;a vacuum-chamber; a valvc-housingconnccted with each of said exhaust-ports and said \'ac-, .nnm-cham'bcr and also having an exhaustdiscl1arge.passage; a valve in each of said "housings adapted to place either of said ex-- haust-ports alternately in 'connminieal-ion with said vacuum-chamber and one of said discharge-passages; a pivoted standard; a loverpivotedto said standard; a second lever pivoted to said first lever andhaving its pivot standard, and each end of said second lever having operative connection with one of said connected with the ends of said second lever and a lockfor holding either of said arms against movement, substantially as set forth.

17. A motor havingin combination a piston; an abutment; a'piston-way having an exhanst-port on each side of said abntmentti-a vacn n m-chamber; a valve-honsin g connected with each of said exhaust-ports and said va uum-chamher and also having an cxh'aiist discharge passage; a valve in each of said housings adapted to place each of said exhaust-ports alternately in communication with said vacuum-chamber and. exhaust-discharge passage; a pivoted standard; a lever pivoted to said standard; a second lever pivoted to said first. lever and having its pivot arranged to coincide with the pivot of said standard, and each end of said second lever having operative connection with one of said alvcs; means for oscillating said first lover; a pair of independent pivoted arms pivotally connected with the ends of said second lever; a lock for holding either of said armsagainst movement and a reversing device ope'ratively connected with said lock for throwing it into engagement with either of said arms; substantially as set forth.

18. A motorhavingin combination apiston an abutment; a pistonway having an exhaust-port on each side of saidabutment; a

standard; an elastic connection between said standard and first lever; two independent crank-arms having link connection respectively with the ends of said second lover; a pivoted arm having aclog adapted to rest against either of said crank-arms and hold it inactive; a reversing device connected with said clog-arm, and an operative connection 'between each end of said second lever and one of said valves, substantially as set forth.- VVI-LLIAM S. COLWELL. Witnesses;

F. A. HoPKINs,- EDNA B. JoHNsoN.

with each of said exhaust-ports and said vac} 6 oted to said first lever and having its pivot coincident with the pivot of said standard; a stop for'limiting the movement of said.- 

